Qualcomm has announced the Snapdragon Sound Elite Gen 2, a new audio processor designed to address limitations of wireless earbuds by integrating micro-power Wi-Fi 6E connectivity directly into the chip. This integration allows earbuds and audio devices to connect directly to home Wi-Fi networks and access cloud services, enabling lossless audio streaming that would exceed Bluetooth’s bandwidth limitations.
The company previously attempted a similar approach in 2023 with the S7 Pro sound platform, which used Expanded Personal Area Network (XPAN) technology to deliver 24-bit 96kHz lossless audio. However, that earlier platform required a separate Wi-Fi chip, a requirement that device manufacturers found impractical for compact earbuds. The approach saw limited adoption, with only Xiaomi’s 2025 Buds 5 Pro utilizing the technology, and that model did not receive a global release.
Qualcomm claims the new Elite processor addresses the previous design constraints by eliminating the need for a separate Wi-Fi chip. The company reports the Elite is 30 percent smaller than its predecessor, consumes up to 40 percent less power, and includes twice the artificial intelligence processing capabilities. These improvements are intended to make the platform more appealing to manufacturers of compact devices.
The company has announced partnerships with several manufacturers, including HP on an undisclosed product, ongoing collaboration with Bose, and work with Cleer on intelligent hearables featuring built-in cameras, representing what Qualcomm describes as a new product category.
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